“Realising that I had a larger purpose was one of the most comforting, peaceful feelings,” he said.

“With music, especially, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m a vessel to deliver emotion to people.

“I want to provide the background music to your life as you live it. I'm there for you in heartbreak and tragedy and joy. The thought of being remembered is what keeps me going. What I was trying to say is, the negatives don't matter — it's history that counts.

“At 19, I was just really, really excited to be in the room. Everything was romantic then. Now, nearly a decade later, it's a bit different. I have to speak against negativity and conflict. There's so much b*** s***t that you're forced to address, but it's OK.”